> At a Glance
> – Savannah Guthrie is healing after vocal cord surgery and must stay completely silent for weeks
> – She announced her hiatus from TODAY on Dec. 19, citing vocal nodules and a new polyp
> – The co-anchor called the procedure “not a big, big deal” but years in the making
> – Why it matters: Fans will miss her morning presence while she protects her voice for long-term health
Savannah Guthrie is resting her voice-literally. The TODAY co-anchor shared a whiteboard selfie reading “All good! Thanks for prayers and love!” to let viewers know her post-surgery recovery is on track.
The Announcement
On her final broadcast before the holiday break, Guthrie told the TODAY audience she would step away for an operation to address persistent vocal issues.
> “I have vocal nodules, and now I also have a polyp,”
> she explained, adding the procedure would take place early in the new year.
She expects to be off air for a couple of weeks and, more notably, must observe total silence throughout much of that period.
Road to Recovery
Guthrie greeted the quiet time with humor:
> “You’ll love this, guys. I have to be silent for a couple of weeks, totally silent. Christmas coming early for my family.”
She plans to rely on a dry-erase board-the same tool colleague Sheinelle used after similar surgery in 2020.
- Communicate with kids Vale, 11, and Charley, 9
- Set house rules like “No candy in your bedroom”
- Lean on family support while healing
Sheinelle offered reassurance:
> “The silver lining is you have permission to be still. The house gets quiet. The kids are going to want to help you out.”
Looking Ahead
Although the surgery sidelines her temporarily, Guthrie welcomed the fix:
> “I’m really excited about it. This has been going on for years, honestly.”
Her doctors anticipate the procedure will resolve the chronic voice problems that have plagued her for years.
Key Takeaways
- Guthrie’s surgery addresses long-standing vocal nodules plus a new polyp
- Complete vocal rest is expected for several weeks
- She plans to use a whiteboard for parenting duties while silent
- TODAY viewers can expect her return once cleared by physicians
The co-anchor’s absence is brief, but the quiet treatment is crucial to ensure her voice returns stronger than ever.
